University of Wyoming's Colton Farrow Chasing National Title in Final CNFR Appearance

Colton Farrow. Photo courtesy of UW Rodeo

CASPER, Wyo. - University of Wyoming bareback rider Colton Farrow has put himself in a position for the best finish of his collegiate career heading into Championship Saturday at the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo.

The graduate student from Greybull enters the short go fourth in the nation after posting rides of 81.5, 74.25 and 83.75 points through three rounds for a total of 239.5 points.

Farrow’s strong showing comes during the final CNFR of his collegiate rodeo career. Qualifying for the CNFR isn’t something new for Farrow. He’s been to the CNFR two times before, yet he said he didn’t perform well during his previous CNFR runs.

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Now, after two years of experience and lessons learned, Farrow finds himself knocking on the door of a national championship.

Farrow earned his undergraduate degree in architectural engineering from the University of Wyoming last spring and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration.

After graduation, Farrow hopes to become a structural engineer, but for now his focus remains on the CNFR and then going into pro rodeo.

Farrow’s goal for 2027 is to make the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, a place where every rodeo contestant dreams of competing. "Yes, that's the end goal," Farrow said.

Wyoming Roots

Farrow grew up in Greybull and he takes pride in representing his home state and the University of Wyoming.

"It's pretty special to me," Farrow said. "I mean, the more I travel for rodeo and the more I appreciate the state of Wyoming, everything that it has to offer, and it means a lot to me to be able to go to school and get an education in my home state and represent Wyoming at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper."

Farrow comes from a family with rodeo ties. His father, David Farrow, rode bareback horses when he was younger.

Unlike many rodeo competitors we interview, who start as young children, Farrow did not begin competing until high school.

"I didn't start rodeo until I was 16," he said.

Only one discipline throughout his rodeo career.

"Just bareback riding. That's all I've ever done."

He also qualified twice for the National High School Finals Rodeo before eventually earning a spot on the University of Wyoming rodeo team.

Learning From Experience

One of the biggest lessons Farrow has learned during previous CNFR appearances is to avoid overthinking.

In past years, he spent time studying horses and watching videos before rides.  He’s taking a different approach this year.

"One thing I'm doing this year is that I haven't been looking up my horses," Farrow said. "Because they have all those stats that you can look up on them."

Farrow recalled a previous CNFR when watching video of a horse led him to anticipate the wrong performance.

"I watched that video and kind of changed what I had. I just didn't go with that horse like I should have," he said.

This year, he prefers to trust his instincts.

"I don't want to anticipate a horse doing one thing in your mind and doing something else in real life, I just kind of react to them."

That approach has paid off so far in Casper.

His first and third horses provided opportunities to post big scores.

"My first and third one were just about as good a horse as you can ask for," Farrow said. "Just kind of went out there and jumped and kicked every time, gave a guy a good shot."

Staying Calm Before Championship Saturday

Despite being among the national title contenders, Farrow is doing his best to keep things simple heading into the short round.

"I guess right now I'm just trying not to think about it too much," Farrow said. "I'm just trying not to worry about that too much and just do the same thing I've been doing."

He doesn’t even want to know the brand on the horse he’s going to get on.

"Yeah, pretty much," Farrow said. "I mean, you don't want to anticipate a horse doing one thing in your mind and doing something else in real life, just kind of react to them."

Farrow’s support system is his family and the University of Wyoming coaching staff.

"I feel like you kind of take a lot for a little bit from everyone in the rough stock riding and kind of figure out what works for you. Especially my dad – he got me started and helped me pay for a lot of stuff and brought me to all them high school rodeos and junior rodeos and everything."

His family has been in Casper throughout the week.

"My mom and stepdad came down on Monday and Tuesday," Farrow said. "My dad was here for my first couple rides and he's going to be back for Saturday."

Praise for Seth Glause

Farrow also credited University of Wyoming head coach Seth Glause for helping him develop throughout his college career.

"I think Seth just has kind of a laid back style and just kind of waits for you to ask him if you need some help," Farrow said.

The Greybull native appreciates that coaching philosophy.

"Sometimes if you already know what you did wrong, you don't really need to be told again necessarily," Farrow said. "But when you do need help or ask him, he's definitely been there and done that and knows what he's talking about when it comes to roughstock things. I think he's helped me out a lot."

Looking Ahead

Once the CNFR concludes, Farrow plans to spend the summer competing throughout the Mountain States Circuit while chasing additional professional rodeo goals.

"I'd like to make permit finals this year," he said.

He is also planning a special trip to Alaska with family later this summer.

"We're going to Alaska in August to go on a caribou hunt," Farrow said. "That'll be fun. I’m going with my dad, my older brother."

For now, however, all attention remains on one more ride at the Ford Wyoming Center.

After two previous CNFR appearances that "didn't go well," Farrow has put himself in position to leave college rodeo on the biggest stage possible.

"I'm just trying not to worry about that too much and just do the same thing I've been doing," Farrow said.

About the Author:

Jeff Bugher is a third-generation Wyomingite living in Casper. He is a sportswriter and Wyoming Cowboys/Cowgirls enthusiast who is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA ) and the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). Jeff's work has been cited by Sports Illustrated, one of the world's leading sports publications.

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